Most folk don't know the controversial figure has a statue, but the bronze likeness of slain rapper Tupac Shakur was vandalized twice in three days.  Apparently the "Free the Jena 6" movement has unkindled racism across the country with the top-selling rapper being the latest target of a hangman's noose.

Let's hope Milton Friedman is strapped down in his grave.  Tomorrow, Southern California's leading progressives will host the founding conference of the Horizon Institute, a new Los Angeles based think tank dedicated to advancing a progressive economic agenda.  

Despite, netroots bloggers incessant bickering about their favorite presidential candidates, their competing universal health plans, an apparently solid majority of the Democratic Party has either not noticed or has not been persuaded.  

Who gave Jena residents talking points? I couldn't make the voyage to Jena as I wanted to so I had to watch the march and rally on CNN, which gave plenty of airtime to white Jena residents. One after the other, and then another, they consistently thought the nooses were just a prank and felt we all had the wrong impression of the people of Jena.

For those living without medical insurance, it's been a long 13-year since Hillary Rodham Clinton campaigned for universal health care.  During the remainder of her husband's tumultuous tenure in office, she never fashioned another plan nor has she done so as a U.S. Senator.  But now the # 1 contender for President of the United States has a new universal health plan.

How many times have you heard someone say, young people don't vote? I've heard it more times than I can count. But according to the latest poll by Democracy Corps, young adults are voting in increasing numbers and are largely voting for Democrats, souring any hopes for Republican candidates in 2008.

This weekend, I attended the United Healthcare Workers-West (UHW) Bargaining convention, their a leading union of health care professionals who are embarking on an 08' campaign to leverage worker organizing, presidential politics and possibly the "netroots" community for systemic health care reform in America.  In my neck of the woods, 2008 cannot come fast enough as the federal government is set to pull the plug on the life line of the historic King-Drew County Hospital in Watts, California.  

Despite the enviable combination of financial resources, strategic thinking, the capacity to mobilize its members and accountable leadership; UHW believes it has a lot learn from the "netroots" community.